Go Now: Black History Month and Michael Jordan

Hello, this is Garrett Godwin, and it is time once again to Go Now. On this special edition, we pay tribute to Black History Month:

In 1984, a young Michael Jordan was drafted from the North Carolina to the Chicago Bulls of the NBA, and was quickly its breakout star. Earning the nicknames “Air Jordan” and “His Airness” due to his superb skills on the basketball court, Jordan led the Bulls become one of the most successful teams of the 1990s, as they went to win six championships as a three-peat twice (1991-93, 96-98). In 1999, Jordan was named by ESPN as the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century, and is currently a finalist to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

In 1989, the Detroit Pistons earned their reputation as the “Bad Boys” of the NBA, when they vindicated themselves against Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers — sweeping the NBA Finals in four games. The “Bad Boys” roster included Isaiah “Zeke” Thomas, Joe “Joey D” Dumars, Vinnie Johnson, and Dennis “Worm” Rodman”. Fifteen years later, in 2004, the Pistons and Lakers faced off once again in the Finals.

This time, the roster included Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, and Chauncey Billups, as the odds were against them as champions. Still, Detroit captured their third title against the Lakes in five games. They were congratulated by then-President George W. Bush for their achievement, for people thought he was never going to be elected to the White House — proving once again that people still love underdogs.

Garrett Godwin is an entertainment journalist, who writes for NewsBlaze about television and people in the entertainment industry, from his home state of Michigan. Contact Garrett by writing to NewsBlaze.